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2005-08-14
@ 11:41 p.m.
Ok this entry is basically to make up the last 2 weeks while I was away. The long and short of it was that 1) I came back hitting my objective, so my boss is pretty happy, and so am I. 2) I missed my flight, twice. and 3) I lost my luggage.
So how in the world did I managed to miss my flight/s? The 1st time was really my fault... The damn itinery said the flight was at 2, so I reckon that I should do alright by making it to the airport at 11. I spent the morning in the hotel eating my horrid breakfast, making phonecalls back to my boss to update him with my progress, then made my way to the airport. After the 1st security checks and a long waiting queue, it was finally my turn to be served. The nice guy at the counter looked at the tickets and gave me a puzzled look. Then he asked...
Man in counter: Sir, do you wish to check in now?
Me: Yea, why not?
Man in counter: Because your flight left last night.
Me: WHAT???
Man in counter: Yes, yout flight left last night. Your itinery says 2 AM. :)
Me: ... Fuck ...
Luckily he was very nice and told me what I needed to do. So I spent the next 1 hour trying to reconfirm my other tickets. After doing that, I checked myself in... 10 fucking hours prior to departure. I curse at myself for being such blurfuck. The next 10 hours of my life, I spent it reading magazines, comics, playing Tekken 4 on the PS2, beating anyone who tries to challenge me, tried using wi-fi but eventually decided not to when I found out I had to pay for such technology. And finally I was on my way to IRAN!
The 2nd incident happened while I was on my way from Iran to Jordan. This time I made sure I had the timing right, and was there early too.
Me: Hi, I'm going to Jordan VIA DUBAI.
Man in counter: Passport. Ticket.
I gave him my passport and tickets
Man in counter: You going to Jordan via Dubai?
Me: Yea.
Man in counter mumbles some stuff to himself and eventually gave me the boarding pass and the rest of my documents.
On the plane, the pilot had to delay the flight for half an hour because "the weather conditions were reported to be cloudy", which was really weird to me because that place hardly rains, so why would it have any clouds in the 1st place? Anyway I figured it was probably some sandstorm. I waited anxiously for the plane to take off.
Upon arrival in Dubai, I had to rush to the transit terminal as my next flight was doing a final call. While queuing to get pass the security checks, a bunch of Africans came, escorted with security, suddenly cut my queue! I thought to myself that I do not wish to miss 2 flights in a week. After going through those damn security checks, I had to run to the boarding gate thingy with my doctor bag. Sigh... yep I missed the flight again. BUT I MUST STRESSED IT WAS NOT MY FAULT! I spoke to the people at Emirates and they admitted to making a mistake. They even have a term for making mistakes for fucking people's flight: Misconnection!
Anyway, they sorry and arranged for me to flight later in the evening to Jordan via Lebanon (Dubai to Lebanon by Emirates, Lebanon to Jordan by Jordanian Air). I was told it would be midnight by the time I arrive. Meanwhile, they would arrange a hotel for me to bunk in while I wait for my flight. They even threw in breakfast and lunch too! I asked about my luggage and if I could have it with me. They said they can't do that, but I would be able to get it back when I arrive in Jordan. Yep, that's how it happened. I arrived in Jordan and my luggage was missing! I went to report my lost luggage, sat there for an hour and they said they can't find my luggage anywhere. So I left my details and the airport people said they'll call me the next morning to let me know if my luggage was recovered.
I spend the next day meeting my customer , explaining to him what had happened. I looked really inappropriate wearing a tee, berms and slippers to see a client. He then suggested that we go to the airport to clarify the matter, and at the same time claim insurance.
We went to the airport. Most of the time I had no idea what was going on as my my customer was speaking in Arabic and the person in charge wasn't too interested in my missing luggage and he wasn't very keen on issuing a cheque for the insurance. The two of them engaged in a verbal battle which ended with my customer wanted to lodge a complaint. The guy got scared and referred us to this lady whom he said she can help us. We went to the lady and told her what was going on, the man came later, got scolded by the lady and soon she was going to issue the cheque. That was when I saw my luggage, sitting there in their office, everyone making their way around my luggage to get from one end of the office to the other. I started jumping and pointing and shouting and they soon realised that I didn't have rabies and came to realise that I had found my missing luggage!!! YAY!!!
The rest of my trip was fairly good. My boss called me up to tell me that I've gone a good job, to which I told him I wanted a raise. He paused and said that will happen, in due time. Sigh... I need a break.